Table with self-storing leaf



Dec. 27, 1966 c. CHARNE ETAL TABLE WITH SELF-STORING LEAF Filed March 9, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CHARLES CHARNE JON N. BREIT Mm ATT RNEY United States Patent Ofiiice 3,294,042 Fatented Dec. 27, 1966 3,294,042 TABLE WITH SELF-STQRING LEAF Charles Charne, 2037 N. John Russell Circle, and John N. Ereit, 8210 Forrest Ava, both of Elkins, Park, Pa. 19117 Filed Mar. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 438,242 7 Claims. (Cl. It 884) This invention relates to a table. More particularly, it relates to an extension table having a center leaf with self-storing features. More particularly, it relates to an extension table with a rotatable elevating self-storing center leaf. This invention has particular advantages when applied to tables where ease of operation and appearance are considerations. It isparticularly advantageous when used in tables that have a thickened edge, which may be called an apron or self-edge, to give the appearance of a thick table top.

An object of this invention is to provide a table.

Another object of this invention is to provide an extension table having a center leaf.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an extension table having a partially rotatable, elevating, self-storing center leaf.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a self-storing, partially rotatable, elevating, center leaf for an extension table, including spring means and locking means.

Other aims and objects of this invention are made apparent in the following spec fication and claims.

The invention is best understood in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side View of a table in closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom view of a table in closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the table illustrated in FIGURE 2, but in a fully open position;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4a is an enlarged view of part of FIGURE 4, showing another embodiment thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a detailed view of an alternate embodiment of the center post assembly shown with the table leaf in the lowered position;

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a detailed view of the center post assembly as shown in FIGURE 7, but with the table leaf in the raised position; and,

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-I0 of FIGURE 9.

The table of this invention is considered as an improvement over the table disclosed in the patent to Wurm, Patent Number 1,915,347.

This invention provides an extension table having a center leaf which may automatically be stored below the table surface. The structure of this device, as set forth below, enables this center leaf to be so stored with minimum visibility in its stored position. It enables such a center leaf to be provided with minimum visibility in the stored position even in such modern tables that are normally provided with a thickened edge, sometimes called an apron or self-edge. This thickening is provided for esthetic purposes to present the appearance of a table with a thick and heavy top. The present structure also permits the table to be put into and removed from its enlarged top position with less physical eflfort than has heretofore been required, and also to minimize the amount of longitudinal movement required of the main or side sections to install the center leaf. The present structure also provides for easy adaptation to presently existing table hardware.

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the table, generally designated 100, in its closed or unextended position. The table comprises a first main or side half of the table 50a and a second main or side half of the table 50b. The center leaf or section of the table is generally designated 50c, and is shown in its stored position below the table halves or sections 549a and 5812.

A pair of legs 24a are provided on first table section 50a and a second pair of legs 24b are provided on the second table section 5%.

The basic structure for providing a table having the ability to have its sections separated is essentially convcntional. As perhaps best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, a set of mutually coacting slide bars 26, 27 and 28 are provided near one long side of the table, and another set of slide bars 26, 27 and 28 are provided near the other long side of the table. As best shown in FIGURE 3, slide bars 26 are afiixed to the underside of table top section or half ZIP(1 which forms part of table half or section Etta, and slide bars 27 are aflixed to the underside of table top half or section 20b which is part of table half or section 50b. Slides 28 are provided in longitudinally sliding relationship between slides 26 and 27.

In FIGURE 3, the opening of the table 199 discloses the slide runways 28a and 28b on opposite sides of the center slide bar 28. Further structural details of this slide mechanism are best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, wherein it may be seen that the slide runways 28a and 28b are provided by dovetailed longitudinal pieces afiixed firmly to opposite sides of the center slide bar 28. The slide bars 26 and 27 are provided with matching longitudinal recesses which permit longitudinal sliding motion with respect to the slide runways 23a and 28b, but not transverse motion. In the embodiment illustrated, these slide elements are made of wood. This represents one form of such structures as are presently used. It is understood that another common form of such structures have the slide elements made of metal. It is understood that the wooden slide element arrangement herein disclosed is considered the full equivalent of metal elements, which, of course, differs slightly in their detailed structure, but not in their function as far as the purpose of this invention is concerned.

Pins 29a are provided in table top section 20a. These pins mate with matching apertures 2% provided in table top section 2012 when the table sections 20a and 20b are closed without the interposition of the center or center leaf section of the table 50c. The center leaf table top 200 is provided with pins 290 on one long edge thereof,

and with apertures 20d on the other long edge thereof. When the center table section 500 is in position, the pins and apertures of the first and second main table sections 50a and 50b mate with the respective apertures and pins of the center leaf section.

Levelers 231) are provided on the underside of table top section 20b. Levelers 230 are provided on the underside of center leaf of table top section 200. These levelers are typically small metal extensions which serve to supplement the pins and apertures in keeping the adjoining sections of the table top in proper vertical alignment.

All top sections 20a, 20b and 200 of the table 100 are preferably and commonly provided with aprons 21a, 21b and 21c along the outermost edges thereof. Reference to FIGURE 3, shows that these apron portions are not provided at the edges where sections mate, but only on those edges that are outermost when viewed by a user of the table. The dependent aprons are covered for esthetic reasons respectively with edging 22a, 22b and 22c. This edging is vertical on the outermost portions of the aprons and the adjoining table tops, and serves to providean appearance of a thick over-all table top. The structure of the aprons and the edging is additionally shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The edging may be veneer or some plastic or other composition substitute therefor, or may be of decorative or protective metal.

The description so far could be applied to a conventional extension table. The following recited structure is more pertinent to this invention only.

For reasons which will be made apparent, it is necessary that the slides 26, 27 and 28 be somewhat lowered from the table top undersides. For this purpose, slide bars 26 are affixed to the underside of table top section 20a by means of blocks 25a. Slide bars 27 are affixed to the underside of table top section 20b by means of blocks 25b. These blocks may be broadly described as spacing devices and may vary in size, material and proportion, so long as the required vertical spacing, as shown in FIG- URES 1, 4 and 5, for example, is provided by them. The spacing devices 2512 may be metal, for example.

A center leaf positioner generally designated 30 is provided. This positioner includes a crossbracket 32 which is afiixed at each end thereof to a center slide bar 28. Slide bar 28 is not affixed to either of the slide bars 26 and 27, but slides longitudinally with respect to slide bars 26 and 27 along the slide runways 28a and 28b. The crossbracket 32 is preferably a U-shaped member disposed on its side so that what ordinarily would be called the upright legs of a U-shaped member are here horizontal. As best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, crossbracket 32 comprises a vertical element 320 of the U- shaped member 32, and upper horizontal leg" 32a and a lower horizontal leg 32b, each leg being connected to and extending from the vertical element. The legs are shown in cross-section. FIGURE 1 shows the two legs 32a and 32b, and FIGURES 2 and 3 shows only the lower leg 32b. The end portions of the vertical element 32c are cut out to accommodate the slide bars. The crossbracket 32 may conveniently be made of bent heavy gauge sheet metal.

The lower horizontal leg 320 has an aperture 32d therethrough, substantially near the mid-point between the two ends of bracket 32. This aperture 32d receives the tube 33 (described in more detail below), which fits therein with a loose fit permitting rotation.

The upper horizontal leg 32a has a corresponding aperture 32e therein, positioned vertically above aperture 32d. The upper aperture 32e, however, in addition to its circular configuration to receive tube 33, also extends on opposite sides to form a longitudinal slot. The longitudinal slot configuration of aperture 32a is best shown in FIGURE 6.

Tube 33 is provided, extending through apertures 32d and 32a of the crossbracket 32. In the embodiment of FIGURES 4 and 5, two horizontal pins extend diametrically through the walls of the vertical tube 33. These pins are set one above the other and at right angles to each other. A coil spring 37 fits loosely around tube 33. The diameter of the coil is larger than that of the aperture 32d, so that the spring 37 rests on the upper surface of the lower horizontal leg 32b. The functions of the pins mentioned above can now be explained. In the lowered position of the center leaf, as shown in FIGURE 4, pin 35 serves as the upper retainer for spring 37, co-operating with leg 32b to retain spring 37 in a compressed condition. In the same figure, pin 36 serves as a detent by pressing against the under surface of upper leg 32a. FIGURE 6 shows this position of pin 36.

When tube 33 is rotated -degrees (in a manner described below), pin 36 likewise rotates and, thus, goes into registration with the elongated slot 32a. The force of spring 37 is then free to be exerted against tube 33 by means of its pressure on pin 35, and the tube rises to the position shown in FIGURE 5.

In FIGURE 5, the pin 36 has passed through slot 32e. Pin 35, which originally served only a spring-retaining function, by virtue of also having been rotated through 90-degrees, is now at right angles to the longitudinal dimension of slot 32c and, therefore, serves the same detent function originally served by pin 36. Thus, the upward travel of tube 33 is limited. It is apparent that tube 33 may be depressed and then rotated back to the original position, which will return it to the locked lower position, as shown in FIGURE 4.

Each of pins 35 and 36 has been described and is illustrated as a single pin extending through the tube. This is a convenient way to manufacture the device. It is understood that it would be the functional equivalent, though less preferable, to have separate diametrically opposed projections or pins extending from the surface of the tube 33, instead of a single pin passing through the tube.

A plate 34 is affixed to the undersurface of center leaf table top section 20c. The upper end of tube 33 is firmly affixed to this plate in any convenient manner, as by welding.

The over-all operation of the table can now be made apparent. The table starts in its closed position, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The end or main sections 50a and 50b are pulled apart as permitted by the sliding action of the slide bars 26, 27 and 28, as shown in FIG- URE 3. The center leaf section 50c, which is originally in the position shown in FIGURE 2, is then easily accessible from above to be rotated by hand in the direction of the dotted arrow in FIGURE 3, to the final position shown in FIGURE 3. When the center section reaches the position shown in FIGURE 3, the tube 33 and, consequently, the pin 36 will have rotated 90-degrees also, thus, permitting the raising of the tube 33, as has been described. The center leaf section, therefore, rises to a predetermined height. This predetermined height is such that the upper level of the main and center sections are the same. The end sections are then pushed together, so that the registration or leveling pins 290 on the center section 500 mate with the corresponding apertures 29!), and the similar pins 29a on the main section 50a mate with the corresponding apertures 29d in the center section. The levelers 23b also serve to keep a proper vertical alignment of the three sections.

It will be noted that when the center leaf is rotated from the stored position to the raised position, it remains at the unelevated height for all or almost all of its rotation. It then is elevated by the spring. This aspect of remaining at the lower level permits the center leaf to be rotated without striking the apron portions 21a. Also, the center leaf of a table can be relatively heavy to elevate, particularly for a woman, and the spring provides the lifting efiFect without manual exertion. In the closed and stored position, as shown in FIGURE- 2, the center leaf by having its longitudinal dimension the same as that of the main portions of the table, minimizes the visibility of the center leaf to observers using the table.

FIGURE 4a illustrates a slightly different form of the embodiment of FIGURE 4. The upper horizontal leg 32a of the cross-bracket 32 is provided with a pair of indentations transverse to the long axis of the crossbracket and extending diametrically from the circular portion of the aperture 32e. In the lowered position of the table, as shown in FIGURE 4, the pins 36 fit up into the indentations and act as a holding means or lock against accidental rotation. To start rotation from the lowered stored position, there must be an extra exertion of turning force or an exertion of downward pressure to free the pins 36 from the indentations. Pressure exerted by spring 37 tends to force pins 36 into the indentations.

An alternate form of the center leaf positioner is shown in FIGURES 7, 8, 9 and 10. Except for the illustrated differences in the figures, the over-all structure of this embodiment is identical with that described above. The differences lie mainly in certain detailed structure of the tube.

The crossbracket 42 is preferably a U-shaped element, as has been described above in connection with the main embodiment, in which there is an upper horizontal leg 42a, a lower horizontal leg 42b, and a vertical element 42c which acts as the base of the U-shaped bracket.

The tube 43 is attached to a plate 34 which, in turn, is afiixed to the table top section 200, as has been described above. The bracket 42 is attached to the slides, as has been described above. Upper crossbracket horizontal leg 42a is provided with an aperture therethrough 42e, which permits turning and axial movement of the tube 43.

The lower leg 42b is provided with an aperture 42d, substantially vertically below the upper aperture. The configuration of aperture 42d is best seen in FIGURE 10. It is generally circular, to accommodate the tube 43, except that there is an inwardly extending projection or tab 42 which may also be described as a cam follower.

The tube 43 is provided with a vertical guide or cam slot 49 which extends upwardly partway along the tube from the bottom thereof. As best seen in FIGURE 9, the slot 49 then bends sharply, highly preferably at right angles, to one side, for a distance of about 90-degrees around the circumference of the tube 43, and then preferably is extended vertically downwardly again for a short distance, for a purpose described below.

The pin 46 which extends through tube 43 acts a retainer for coil spring 47, in the same manner as has been described above in connection with pin 36. In the elevated position of the center leaf, as shown in FIGURE 9, pin 46 also acts as a detent by pressing against upper horizontal leg 42a. To lower the center leaf from the elevated position, one presses down and then turns the leaf through 90-degrees, as in the first described embodiment. In the embodiment as shown in FIGURE 9, however, during this operation, the tab 42 rides in the vertical section of slot 49 until it reaches the horizontal section, and the rotational movement then imparted moves the horizontal section of slot 49 passed the tab. The tension of the spring at the end of the horizontal section of slot 49 forces the tab into the short vertically extended portion of the slot. This serves as a locking device to maintain the leaf in its stored position without the possibility of undesired rotation.

Thus, to raise the leaf into position, the center leaf top 200 must be initially pressed slightly downward so that the tab 42) clears the short vertical extension and can permit the horizontal section of slot 49 to pass along it. The tube 43 is thus rotated until the long vertical section of guide slot 49 is reached, at which point the tension of spring 47 raises the center leaf to the proper height. It is noted that the preferable form of tubes 33 and 43 is that of a hollow metal tube.

The provision of a table according to this invention permits the use of such a self-storing rotatable center leaf with tables having aprons or self-edges along the edges thereof, and also permits operation thereof with less manual exertion.

The scope of this invention is to be determined by the appended claims and is not to be limited to the foregoing description and drawings which are illustrative.

We claim:

1. A table with a self-storing center leaf comprising two side table sections having matable edges and a rotatable, elevatable center leaf, said center leaf having a major longitudinal dimension and having a stored position in which said major longitudinal dimension is at right angles to said matable edges of said side sections and a raised position in which said major longitudinal dimension is parallel to said matable edges, slide bars connecting said side sections, a crossbracket connected to said slide bars, said crossbracket comprising (1) a vertical element, (2) an upper horizontal leg extending from said vertical element, and (3) a lower horizontal leg extending from said vertical element, apertures in said upper and lower horizontal legs; a center leaf positioner mounted on said crossbracket and supporting said center leaf, said center leaf positioner including (a) means to permit only an initial horizontal rotation of said center leaf through only approximately in only a horizontal plane from said stored position of said center leaf, (b) means to permit a vertical rise of said center leaf to said raised position only after said initial rotation from said stored position, (c) a spring, said spring bearing on said crossbracket and center leaf positioner and being biased only to tend to raise said center leaf with respect to said crossbracket, and (d) a vertical tube running through said leg apertures, said vertical tube being attached at the upper end thereof to the center leaf.

2. A table with a self-storing center leaf as set forth in claim 1, wherein said spring is a coil spring around said tube and resting on said lower horizontal leg of said crossbracket, and said tube includes a retaining means extending therefrom to retain said spring at the upper end of said spring.

3. A table with a self-storing center leaf as set forth in claim 2, wherein said aperture in said upper horizontal leg of said crossbracket includes an elongated portion, a detent on said tube and extending therefrom, said detent bearing against the underside of said upper horizontal leg when said center leaf is in the stored position, and passable upwardly through said elongated portion of said aperture when said center leaf and tube are rotated approximately 90-degrees from said stored position.

4. A table with a self-storing center leaf as set forth in claim 3, wherein said retaining means and said detent are each pins extending from the side of said tube, said retaining pin and detent pin being at approximately right angles to each other in a horizontal plane.

5. A table with a self-storing center leaf as set forth in claim 3, wherein an indentation is provided in the said underside of said upper horizontal leg, said detent fitting into said indentation when said center leaf is in the stored position.

6. A table with a self-storing center leaf as set forth in claim 2, wherein said tube has an elongated slot therein having a long vertical section from the bottom of said tube and a horizontal section extending from the top of said vertical section approximately 90-degrees around the circumference of said tube, and said aperture in said lower horizontal leg includes a tab fitting into said slot.

7. A table with a self-storing center leaf as set forth in claim 6, wherein said elongated slot includes a short vertical section extending from that end of said horizontal section remote from the end of said horizontal section which is extended from said long vertical section.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1908 Mohr et a1. 10884 4/1913 Bates 248-403 2/ 1930 Ebbecke 248-408 7/1931 Brainard 108--136 12/ 193-3 Wurm 108--85 4/ 1965 Johnston 248--407 FOREIGN PATENTS 7/1956 Italy. 4/1908 Sweden.

References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS Mosch. Newbury. Patterson. Waples. Dreckschmidt. Wurm. Romeo. Cooper. Cooper.

De Gaal.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Examiner. 

1. A TABLE WITH A SELF-STORING CENTER LEAF COMPRISING TWO SIDE TABLE SECTIONS HAVING MATABLE EDGES AND A ROTATABLE, ELEVATABLE CENTER LEAF, SAID CENTER LEAF HAVING A MAJOR LONGITUDINAL DIMENSION AND HAVING A STORED POSITION IN WHICH SAID MAJOR LONGITUDINAL DIMENSION IS AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID MATABLE EDGES OF SAID SIDE SECTIONS AND A RAISED POSITION IN WHICH SAID MAJOR LONGITUDINAL DIMENSION IS PARALLEL TO SAID MATABLE EDGES, SLIDE BARS CONNECTING SAID SIDE SECTIONS, A CROSSBRACKET CONNECTED TO SAID SLIDE BARS, SAID CROSSBRACKET COMPRISING (1) A VERTICAL ELEMENT, (2) AN UPPER HORIZONTAL LEG EXTENDING FROM SAID VERTICAL ELEMENT, AND (3) A LOWER HORIZONTAL LEG EXTENDING FROM SAID VERTICAL ELEMENT, APERTURES IN SAID UPPER AND LOWER HORIZONTAL LEGS; A CENTER LEAF POSITIONER MOUNTED ON SAID CROSSBRACKET AND SUPPORTING SAID CENTER LEAF, SAID CENTER LEAF POSITIONED INCLUDING (A) MEANS TO PERMIT ONLY AN INITIAL HORIZONTAL ROTATION OF SAID CENTER LEAF THROUGH ONLY APPROXIMATELY 90* IN ONLY A HORIZONTAL PLANE FROM SAID STORED POSITION OF SAID CENTER LEAF, (B) MEANS TO PERMIT A VERTICAL RISE OF SAID CENTER LEAF TO SAID RAISED POSITION ONLY AFTER SAID INITIAL ROTATION FROM SAID STORED POSITION, (C) A SPRING, SAID SPRING BEARING ON SAID CROSSBRACKET AND CENTER LEAF POSITIONER AND BEING BIASED ONLY TO TEND TO RAISE SAID CENTER LEAF WITH RESPECT TO SAID CROSSBRACKET, AND (D) A VERTICAL TUBE RUNNING THROUGH SAID LEG APERTURES, SAID VERTICAL TUBE BEING ATTACHED AT THE UPPER END THEREOF TO THE CENTER LEAF. 